Is Bad Breath Affecting Your Private, Social, Or Business Life?
It Might Take More Than Just A Mint To Solve The Problem…
Bad breath is a social faux pas. If you have ever had the unpleasant experience of being close to someone with bad breath, you know just how disagreeable it can be.
While on the surface, bad breath can be an embarrassment, it’s important to consider what may be causing the problem.
Why? Because bad breath could be a sign of a medical or dental issue.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Bad breath isn’t something that crops up on its own. It can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Food: What we eat has to pass through our entire system before it dissipates. From our mouths, it goes through our digestive system into our blood and is eventually expelled by our lungs. That’s why, when we eat something with a strong odor such as garlic or onions, mouthwash, toothpaste or breath mints will only temporarily cover it up.
- Smoking: Beyond the smelly smoke itself, cigarettes and other tobacco products contain chemicals that can contribute to bad breath. Smoking can also impair the flow of saliva and when it comes to bad breath, saliva is our friend as it helps wash away food particles.
- Medical conditions: Diseases like cancer or diabetes, or problems like respiratory tract infections and sinus infections can cause bad breath. Some medications can also impact the smell of your breath.
- Poor oral health: This deserves its own section…
Improve Your Oral Health And Resolve Bad Breath
Sure, sometimes a medical condition can cause bad breath, but that is very rare. Bad breath is almost always a matter of inadequate oral hygiene.
- Bacteria in our mouths eat the food we eat. When we feed them, they multiply and form sticky layers of bacterial plaque.
- Some types of bacteria turn sugars and starches into acids that eat holes in teeth. Cavities are bacterial infections that rot the teeth – that can’t smell good!
- Other types of bacteria infect the gums and cause gingivitis and periodontitis, creating pockets as weakened gums detach from roots and the inflammation eats away bone – that can really stink!
- If not removed well enough and often enough (toothbrushing and waterflossing), bacterial plaque tends to mineralized into hardened calculus or tartar. That is impossible to remove at home so it stays there infecting the teeth and gums.
The good news is, with proper home care and professional cleanings you can get/keep your teeth and gums healthy and resolve bad breath. We can help create a customized plan for you to effectively improving both your oral health and your breath.
Get Rid Of Bad Breath
If you have persistent or chronic bad breath, a visit to Racine dentist Dr. Westman will establish whether the problem involves your teeth, gums, dentures, tongue, or another condition, and help you find effective treatment for the problem.